Region happenings

MANTECA TONIGHT• KINDRED ARTS: Golden Bough is performing “Christmas in Celtic Land” during the Manteca Kindred Arts concert is tonight at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, North and Powers. Tickets are $15 at the door. For additional details, call (209) 823-2570 or (209) 239-2194. You can also visit the group’s web site at www.mantecakindredarts.com

CHURCH EVENTSMantecaSunday, Dec. 23• FREE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION BRUNCH: The fourth annual Christmas Celebration Brunch and Toy Give-Away is Sunday, Dec. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Place of Refuge Church, 486 Button Ave., Manteca, following the 10 a.m. worship service. The event is open and free to all who would like to attend. This year will feature special activities for the children including bounce houses, Santa giving gifts to the children, special music, and a raffle for free bicycles. Anyone in the community wishing to help should contact the Place of Refuge church office at 239-1371.

Turlock• MASTERPIECE CHRISTMAS: New Life Christian Center in Turlock is hosting a service designed for people with special needs and their families and friends from 5 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 23. The event is for adults, teens and children. There will be holiday treats to eat, songs to sign and friends to meet. The church is located at 2918 W. Tuolumne Rd., Turlock. For more information, call 667-5433.

BENEFIT DINNERSLIVINGSTONSaturday, Dec. 29• MOCHI TSUKI: Livingston United Methodist Church will hold its annual Mochi Tsuki (rice pounding) on Saturday, Dec. 29. Sales will only be by advance order; the price is $4 a pound for plain mochi and $1.50 a piece for ahn mochi. Order forms will be available at the church, or you can place your order by calling the church office at 394-2264 between 9 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday. All orders should be made by Dec. 27; orders will be ready for pick-up from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. only on Dec. 29. The church is located at 11695 W. Olive Ave., Livingston.

MANTECASaturday, Jan. 5• AMERICAN LEGION POST 249 CRAB FEED: The American Legion Post 249 Crab Feed takes place on Saturday, Jan. 5, from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane, Manteca. Tickets are available for $35 from Carol Davis by emailing cdavis@gecac.net or calling 284-5600.

TURLOCKFriday, Jan. 11• PAL CRAB FEED: The 2nd Annual Turlock Police Activities League Crab Feed will be held from 6:30 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, at the Turlock War Memorial, 247 E. Canal Dr. The event features all-you-can-eat crab, auction, raffle, photo booth, DJ and dancing, and a no-host bar. Tickets are $45 each and can be purchased at Reed Realty, 5 E. Main St., FirstCal Mortgage, 319 Main St., or Turlock Parks and Recreation, 144 S. Broadway. For more information, call Erin Genest at 566-2614

Saturday, Jan. 19CRAB & PASTA FEED: The Turlock Firefighters Local 2434 will hold its annual crab and pasta feed from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Turlock War Memorial, 247 E. Canal Dr. The event will benefit the Random Acts of Kindness charity program and 100 percent of the proceeds will go back to the community.Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased by e-mailing turlockfirefightersRAK@yahoo.com.

CONCERTS & SHOWSFoothillsSunday, Jan. 20• WHISPERS AT JACKSON RANCHERIA: Tickets are on sale now for The Whispers concert at the All-New Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort on Sunday, Jan. 20. The show starts at 6 p.m. in the Grand Oak Ballroom. Doors open at 5 p.m. Dreamcatcher’s Club members can get discount tickets for just $20 each, only at the Casino Cage. Non-member tickets are $40, available online at JacksonCasino.com and at the Casino Cage. All tickets are general admission. Must be 21 or older to purchase tickets or attend the show. One of R&B music’s most consistently popular vocal groups, The Whispers, began their legendary career in 1963. Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort is located at 12222 New York Ranch Road, Jackson. For more information, call 800-822-9466 or visit JacksonCasino.com

MODESTOFriday, Jan. 19• KRIS KRISTOFFERSON: The Royal Family Kids’ Camp will benefit from the Kris Kristofferson concert on Friday, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m.at the Gallo Center for the Arts at 10001 I St., Modesto. For tickets and info go to www.galloarts.org or call 338-3106.

Thursday, Jan. 10LOUIS WALKER AT STATE THEATRE: Award-winning Alligator Records artists Rick Estrin and Joe Louis Walker will perform on Thursday, Jan. 10, at The State Theatre in Modesto. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $45. More information is available by going to www.thestate.org Harpist/vocalist/songwriter Estrin and guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Walker will appear as part of “Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout.” Also featured in the band are Kim Wilson, Lazy Lester, Little Charlie Baty and Ron Thompson.

STOCKTONTuesday, Feb. 26• CARRIE UNDERWOOD AT STOCKTON ARENA: Country superstar Carrie Underwood is appearing on Feb. 26 at the Stockton Arena. For ticket information go to www.stocktonlive.com Hunter Hayes is the special guest. “The Blown Away Tour” tickets are now available. You can also go www.carrieunderwood.fm for additional on sale information. The donation of $1 from each ticket sold on the North American leg of “The Blown Away Tour” will continue in 2013 to support Red Cross disaster relief. Every year, the American Red Cross prepares for and responds to nearly 70,000 disasters across the United States. This donation will help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, and emotional support for those in need after a disaster.

Wednesday, Feb. 27• B.B. KING AT BOB HOPE THEATRE: STOCKTON – Throughout the 1990’s as well as the 1980s, 1970s, 1960s and 1950s, there has been only one King of the Blues - Riley B. King, affectionately known as B.B. King. Since B.B. started recording in the late 1940’s, he has released over 60 albums many of them considered blues classics, like 1965’s definitive live blues album “Live At The Regal”, and 1976’s collaboration with Bobby “Blue” Bland, “Together For The First Time”. The blues legend is playing Bob Hope Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com, by calling (800) 745-3000 or at the Stockton Arena Box Office. The show will also feature Tommy Castro and the Painkillers.

Sunday, March 17• Royal Comedy Tour ay Bob Hope: The longest-running most successful urban comedy tour will again hit stages across America this winter/spring including a stop in Stockton on Sunday, March 17, at the Bob Hope Theatre. Tickets are on sale. at www.ticketmaster.com for The Royal Comedy Tour.

DANCEMODESTOSaturday, Jan. 12LESSONS AND SOCIAL: The Greater Modesto Area chapter of USA Dance will hold its monthly lesson and social dance at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Hughson IOOF Lodge. This month’s lesson is Bolero with Sharon Greenhagen and Bill Riley. All ages are welcome. Admission for non-members is $7 for adults and $3.50 for juniors. The lodge is located at 6941 Hughson Ave., Hughson. For more information, call Tracy Cramer at 614-8048.

CHURCH EVENTSMantecaSunday, Dec. 23FREE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION BRUNCH: The fourth annual Christmas Celebration Brunch and Toy Give-Away is Sunday, Dec. 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Place of Refuge Church, 486 Button Ave., Manteca, following the 10 a.m. worship service. The event is open and free to all who would like to attend. This year will feature special activities for the children including bounce houses, Santa giving gifts to the children, special music, and a raffle for free bicycles. Anyone in the community wishing to help should contact the Place of Refuge church office at 239-1371.

Turlock• MASTERPIECE CHRISTMAS: New Life Christian Center in Turlock is hosting a service designed for people with special needs and their families and friends from 5 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 23. The event is for adults, teens and children. There will be holiday treats to eat, songs to sign and friends to meet. The church is located at 2918 W. Tuolumne Rd., Turlock. For more information, call 667-5433.

SUPPORT GROUPSMANTECAMonday, Dec. 19• MS SUPPORT GROUP: Are you living with Multiple Sclerosis? Maybe you love or care for someone with MS? You can join an on-going National MS Society Support Group in the Manteca/Ripon/Lathrop area that meets the third Monday of each month, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Round Table Pizza, 253 Spreckels Ave, Manteca. For more information contact Sue at (209) 482-7034.

TURLOCKFriday, Feb. 8• GRIEF SUPPORT TRAINING: A workshop for grief support professionals and volunteers will be conducted by nationally recognized grief counselor and author Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt on Friday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Larsa Banquet Hall at 2107 East Monte Vista Ave. in Turlock. The workshop is titled “The Art of Companioning the Mourner: Caregiver Principles to Bring Hope and Healing.” Cost is $65 which includes a box lunch. Registration is required. Register online by Jan. 27 at www.griefcope.eventbrite.com. Continuing education units are available for attendees.